Racing

Junior and Senior Member Sailboat Racing

The Erieau Yacht Club offers dinghy racing throughout the July and August for both Senior and Junior sailors. Regular fleet racing is offered for a variety of sailboat classes by a professional race committee. The fleet consists of C Scows, Larks and Lasers. We race both on Rondeau Bay and out on Lake Erie. Racing is offered on weekends and our junior club participates in many special regattas throughout Ontario.

The boat with the longest history at the EYC is the Lark, which started replacing the original fleet around 1947. This was a low gaff-rigged cat boat, like a scow, 16 feet long by 6 feet beam, and 6 inch freeboard, wre originally designed by C.M.Palmer. Before the 40s were over there were fifteen Larks on the bay. Larks remain in steady use within the EYC racing fleet with the newest one being built in 2014.

The C Scow was the first class of scow built by Harry C. Melges, Sr. in
1945; it quickly became an all-time speed favorite. The 2014 Melges C Scow® has come a long way from the days of wooden materials and cotton sails. It is now one of the most revolutionary sailboats on the market. Inspired by more than 100 years of competitive racing, this cat-rigged, maneuverable sailboat is great fun and a total pleasure to sail. The C-Scow has made its way onto Rondeau Bay at the EYC over the last decade and now makes up the largest fleet on Sunday races.

The Laser is one of the most popular single-handed dinghies in the world. As of 2012, there are more than 200,000 boats worldwide. A commonly cited reason for its popularity is that it is robust, and simple to rig and sail. The Laser also provides very competitive racing due to the very tight class association controls which eliminate differences in hull, sails and equipment. The Laser has been part of the EYC racing fleet for more than 30 years and remains a favourite amongst younger sailors.

2.0 Notices to Competitorsand Changes to Sailing Instructions
2.1 Notices to Competitors and any change to the sailing instructions will be posted at the notice board located at the yacht club.

3.0 Schedule of Races
3.1 The dates of racing are set out in the Schedule, as may be modified by a Notice to Competitors.

3.2 A race may be postponed or cancelled as may be determined by the Chairman of the Race and Rules Committee, the Commodore and the Vice-commodore, and posted at the yacht club as a notice to competitors.

4.0 Eligibility for racing
4.1 To be eligible for racing, a boat must be entered and dues paid as required by the rules of the Erieau Yacht Club.

4.2 Lakeside Race
To be eligible for the Lakeside trophy, a boat shall have competed in at least 2 races before the Lakeside Race.

4.3 Brown Jugge Race
No competitor who has won a trophy during the sailing season shall be eligible for the Brown Jugge Trophy.

5.2 Depending on the number of competitors, the Laser fleet may start with the Larks. See the Notice to Competitors posted on race day.

6.0 The Course
6.1 The course shall be determined by the Chairman of the Race and Rules Committee, the Commodore and the Vice-commodore, and posted at the yacht club as a Notice to Competitors.

6.2.1 Once the course has been determined, the race shall be run by the Barge Captain or his designate.

6.2.2 The Barge Captain has the authority to abandon a race, change or shorten the course as provided by in the Rules.

6.3.0 The Start
6.3.1 Avoid starting area: Boats whose preparatory signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area.

6.3.2 Starting line: The starting line will be between the start mark and a mark placed by the barge. If no mark is placed, then the starting line will be between the starting mark and the signal flag on the barge.

6.3.3 No-dip starts: No part of a boat’s hull, crew or equipment shall be on the course side of the starting line during the last minute before her starting signal. If this rule is broken, then the boat shall thereafter sail from the course side around one end of the start line before starting. This modifies Rule 30.1, and an I-flag shall not be required to be displayed.

6.3.4 Boats over at the start: The Barge Captain may designate a Judge for the purpose of determining if a boat is over at the start. The designated Judge has authority to determine if a boat is over at the start and to so advise that boat. The authority of the designated Judge is in addition to that of the Barge Captain.

6.3.0 The Finish
6.3.1 Finishing line: The finishing line will be between the finish mark and a mark placed by the barge. If no mark is placed, then the finishing line shall be between the finishing mark and the signal flag on the barge.

6.3.2 The Barge Captain shall have sole authority to determine the order in which boats finish.

7.0 Race Time Limits and Class Wind Limits
7.1 The race time limit: For a race to count for a class of boats, the first boat must finish within 2 hours of the start time of the class.

7.2 Wind limit for Larks: The maximum wind limit for Larks is an average wind speed of 13 knots as determined by the Chairman of the Race and Rules Committee, the Commodore and the Vice-commodore.

7.3 Wind limit for C-scows and Lasers: The maximum wind limit for C-Scows and Lasers is an average wind speed of 18 knots as determined by the Chairman of the Race and Rules Committee, the Commodore and the Vice-commodore.

8.0 Scoring
8.1 The race committee shall score a race or series as provided in Appendix A of the Rules using the Low Point System

8.2 A boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score when 5 or more races are completed.

8.3 A boat’s overall score will be the total of her race scores excluding her two worst score when 10 or more races are completed. If less than 10 but more than 5 races are completed the overall score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score.

9.0 Protests
9.1 Protests shall be filed with the race committee there within the protest time limit.

9.2 For each class, the protest time limit is 2 hours after the last boat has finished the last race of the day in that class.

10. Disclaimer of Liability
10.1 Competitors participate in all races entirely at their own risk. See rule 4, Decision to Race. The organizing authority, and the Erieau Yacht Club, it’s officers, employees, officials and volunteers will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after racing, either ashore or on the water. By deciding to enter a race, and continuing to compete, every boat and competitor expressly waives and agrees to hold harmless, the organizing authority, and the Erieau Yacht Club, it’s officers, employees, officials and volunteers from any and all liability.